Missouri defensive end Michael Sam told The New York Times and ESPN he is gay, and the 2014 NFL Draft prospect plans to become the first openly gay player in the NFL.

"I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it," Sam told The Times. "I just want to own my truth."

"I am an openly, proud gay man," Sam told ESPN.

"I understand how big this is," he said. "It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL."

The 24-year-old Sam, who just completed his senior season at Missouri, was among the top pass rushers in the SEC last year with 10.5 regular-season sacks (he had another one in the Cotton Bowl), boosting his NFL draft stock despite his lack of size for the defensive end position (6-foot-2, 255 pounds).

The NFL released a statement in support of Sam on Sunday night: "We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014."

According to The Times, Sam first told Missouri teammates L'Damian Washington and Marvin Foster about his sexual orientation about a year ago, and announced it to the squad during a team-building exercise during the preseason last year. The University of Missouri official Twitter feed expressed support for Sam Sunday night.

"I'm not naive. I know this is a huge deal and I know how important this is," Sam said. "But my role as of right now is to train for the combine and play in the NFL."

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport received the following reaction from a club executive: "The league is in a better place to handle this now than a few years ago given the influx of younger GMs."

Rapoport also spoke to an NFL scouting director who does not believe Sam's revelation will hurt his draft status, and that Sam projects as a late-round pick. NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks agreed that Sam's draft status would not be affected, but Brooks projects Sam as a mid-round selection.

NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala said another team's scouting director told her that he "knew for a while." When she asked if it had or would play in his evaluation, he emphatically said: "Not at all."

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, an ex-scout with the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, also believes Sam's draft stock will not be adversely affected.

"In my eight years in draft rooms, the subject never came up. I would expect it would not have an impact on his draft status," Jeremiah said. "In my experience with every team I was with, it was all about putting the best 53 players on the field. I don't see why that would change here."

The 2014 NFL Draft will be held May 8-10.

After the news broke on Sunday, Sam took to Twitter.

Due to his size, Sam is expected to be drafted by a club using a 3-4 defensive scheme and switched to outside linebacker, where his pass-rush skills can be best utilized. He played in the Reese's Senior Bowl last month and is among the Tigers' invitees to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis later this month.

Nine of his 10.5 sacks came during a trio of three-sack peformances against Arkansas State, Vanderbilt and Florida. He also recorded an assisted sack while working against Texas A&M star left tackle Jake Matthews, who is expected to be a first-round draft choice.

Detroit vs. EverybodyClowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right....

February 10th, 2014, 10:18 am

Pablo

RIP Killer

Joined: August 6th, 2004, 9:21 amPosts: 10024Location: Dallas

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

He hasn't really been on my radar, but sounds like a tweener as an undersized DE who has been playing with his hand on the ground. I don't think most teams would have a problem with him in this day and age, but this won't help his draft stock.

Quick, name the NBA player who came out last year? Honestly, I can't even remember his name (something Collins). Unless a big star comes out, this isn't really a big deal.

He hasn't really been on my radar, but sounds like a tweener as an undersized DE who has been playing with his hand on the ground. I don't think most teams would have a problem with him in this day and age, but this won't help his draft stock.

Quick, name the NBA player who came out last year? Honestly, I can't even remember his name (something Collins). Unless a big star comes out, this isn't really a big deal.

It was Jason Collins that came out last year. I always remember his name because of games like NBA 2k, he was always a good choice to fill a roster.

I agree a big star needs to come out for it to be a big deal, but having someone coming into a league as a rookie is another step forward. Sam will have a chance to keep his name out there if he can transition to the NFL where as Collins is at the end of his career and already consider a role-player/bench guy.

February 10th, 2014, 12:13 pm

thelomasbrowns

Player of the Year - Offense

Joined: August 24th, 2010, 9:54 pmPosts: 2870

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

Good for him.

_________________"Good teams don't worry about a whole lot of stuff. They travel, they play, they win. And it doesn't matter where they go, what the time block is, all those kinds of things. They never seem to bother teams that play well, and we want to be one of those teams." -Jim Caldwell

February 10th, 2014, 1:08 pm

regularjoe12

Def. Coordinator – Teryl Austin

Joined: March 30th, 2006, 12:48 amPosts: 4211Location: Davison Mi

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

I think I'd rather have an openly gay teamate than a guy with a made up girlfriend! Cough ~M'Teo~ Cough Cough!

Why do homosexuals even think we care? Keep your sexlife out of the public. This has nothing to do with how good of a player he is. Just be a good player and no one will care at all what goes on in your bedroom.

I am straight. Does anyone care? I didn't think so.

February 10th, 2014, 6:29 pm

thelomasbrowns

Player of the Year - Offense

Joined: August 24th, 2010, 9:54 pmPosts: 2870

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

BillySims wrote:

Why do homosexuals even think we care? Keep your sexlife out of the public. This has nothing to do with how good of a player he is. Just be a good player and no one will care at all what goes on in your bedroom.

I am straight. Does anyone care? I didn't think so.

The original NYTimes article says that this is a common question from GMs and scouts, so apparently someone does care. Just because people are more enlightened now, you can't just pretend that the past 50 years never happened. This is a very big deal.

_________________"Good teams don't worry about a whole lot of stuff. They travel, they play, they win. And it doesn't matter where they go, what the time block is, all those kinds of things. They never seem to bother teams that play well, and we want to be one of those teams." -Jim Caldwell

February 10th, 2014, 7:38 pm

WarEr4Christ

QB Coach - Brian Callahan

Joined: October 26th, 2005, 11:48 pmPosts: 3056Location: Elkhart, In.

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

Billy,

Because it is part of the indoctrination of our kids. It is being pushed so hard by celebrities, media, and even our president, in order to show that it is a "normal" lifestyle. It is not a normal lifestyle, it is a personal choice. You are not born with homosexuality, you are born with a bent towards sin. That takes on many facets! pornography, alcoholism, greed, and many more. A "bent" is a tendency or sensitivity towards a particular way, and when pursued because of many circumstances, including mental and emotional circumstances, it becomes a nature or natural tendency.

Again, this is not meant for our generation, it is meant for those who are coming up now, in order to train them into thinking that this is normal and acceptable. Lenin said it best in speaking of Communism, "A lie told often enough becomes the truth," and, "Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted."

The same is true with our current government system, the changes being made are not for us, they are for our children who are being indoctrinated into a new system where the government will provide everything, we just sit back and enjoy our leisure time. Our president is the pied piper, leading all of our young, and "disadvantaged" citizens to their death, they just don't know it yet. But that's a topic for another thread in Off Topic.

But I'm with Pablo on this: Who cares that he's a turd chaser, does it affect how well he plays football? Stop using your potential platform to bare your personal choices, and concentrate on the job at hand.

_________________Acts 4:13, 1 Cor. 2:1-5, Rom. 12:1-2

February 11th, 2014, 9:46 am

Pablo

RIP Killer

Joined: August 6th, 2004, 9:21 amPosts: 10024Location: Dallas

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

WarEr4Christ wrote:

You are not born with homosexuality

Well that's certainly been cleared up now hasn't it. I have to say, however, that via personal observations of that part of the population doesn't seem to have made a choice to me. Almost all of them I know say they have been that way since they can remember, it is who they are and was never a choice any more than you or I prefer women. Who am I to say they are all wrong? In addition, I've known a few gay men since they were very young and honestly looking back you could tell very early on.

In addition, many would argue that Jesus would disagree with you...

Matthew 19:11-12 wrote:

Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.

Now you can certainly argue the meaning of a eunuch, typically they are men who have been castrated. Man have suggested, in old Jewish culture typically this meant gay men. I think it is certainly up for debate, but I thought it would be an interesting to dig into deeper for the Christians out there.

Really? Please share any documented proof of such. Also, please kindly share with us the exact time when you, WarEr4Christ, 'chose' to be attracted to women and how long it took you to come to that 'choice'. How many dates with men did you go on before making this 'choice'. Personally I cannot recall any point in my 42 years on this planet where I chose to like women instead of men.

_________________

Quote:

Detroit vs. EverybodyClowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right....

Because it is part of the indoctrination of our kids. It is being pushed so hard by celebrities, media, and even our president, in order to show that it is a "normal" lifestyle. It is not a normal lifestyle, it is a personal choice. You are not born with homosexuality, you are born with a bent towards sin. That takes on many facets! pornography, alcoholism, greed, and many more. A "bent" is a tendency or sensitivity towards a particular way, and when pursued because of many circumstances, including mental and emotional circumstances, it becomes a nature or natural tendency.

Again, this is not meant for our generation, it is meant for those who are coming up now, in order to train them into thinking that this is normal and acceptable. Lenin said it best in speaking of Communism, "A lie told often enough becomes the truth," and, "Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted."

The same is true with our current government system, the changes being made are not for us, they are for our children who are being indoctrinated into a new system where the government will provide everything, we just sit back and enjoy our leisure time. Our president is the pied piper, leading all of our young, and "disadvantaged" citizens to their death, they just don't know it yet. But that's a topic for another thread in Off Topic.

But I'm with Pablo on this: Who cares that he's a turd chaser, does it affect how well he plays football? Stop using your potential platform to bare your personal choices, and concentrate on the job at hand.

_________________"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams

“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.” - Neil deGrasse Tyson

February 11th, 2014, 2:47 pm

conversion02

RIP Killer

Joined: January 26th, 2005, 9:34 pmPosts: 10946Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

^ lol ^

______________________Draft defense - CB, LB, DT, LB...WR/KR

February 11th, 2014, 10:17 pm

WarEr4Christ

QB Coach - Brian Callahan

Joined: October 26th, 2005, 11:48 pmPosts: 3056Location: Elkhart, In.

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

there is this little thing called generational sin? It's kind of passed on from father to son for lack of a better discription. Case in point: Abusers beget abusers (not 100% of the time, but more often than not) Alcoholics do the same, again, not 100% of the time. Why? It's because we, humankind, have a FALLEN NATURE. We were created for relationship, and when that relationship was broken, we've tried to fill it with just about everything we can, to no avail.

Here's a little piece that may help and I'll highlight the important parts.Romans 1:20-30New International Version (NIV)

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.(this speaks to science, and nature and creation on levels that science still hasn't figured out)21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. (This speaks of humanity have the desire for a God within them. But instead of accepting the one TRUE God, they've chosen just about anything else, and because of that choice, their ability to understand and thiink SOUNDLY has been darkened. The mind and heart have both been darkened.)24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (This speaks to the choice that humanity has made to worship anything other than God. Including themselves, or science, or nothing, or other men who walked the Earth. Muhammed, Buddha, Confuscious, whomever)26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;

This seems to be pretty cut and dry and speaks to the human condition. We make a choice, and as far as Pablo's point goes concerning homosexuals being that way for as long as they remember, there are "evil spirits" that have or portray these tendencies. They can and do infect humanity with their corrupted thinking, and if the environment where the children isn't focused around a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there is a better chance of living outside of that relationship. I'm not claiming they will be evil, immoral, unloving people, I'm saying that we (humanity) were created for a relationship, and a corruptor (satan) has fouled that up. Like your neighbor trying to sweet talk your wife into bed, while you're at work, that's how the devil works. He can't attack God, because the last time he did he got "educated" so he attacks those who bears God's image, humanity.

Homosexuality is a tendency that when acted upon, becomes a lifestyle. It is born out of many facets, environment, culture, sin nature, predisposition to orientation. (If a boy child grows up without a father, or male influence and in a house full of women, the nature of that child is more feminine or gentle. It doesn't make him evil, or wrong, it's just the environment he's grown up in, and doesn't know any difference.)

Author and Counselor John Eldredge has stated from years of experience, in his book Wild at Heart, that the root of Homosexuality is the boys need for love and acceptance from a father or father figure. This is also why gangs are so popular. The need for healthy, and appropriate father to son love and interaction is what causes many injured, and confused young men to seek out the love from another man as they understand it.

The female version of this same thinking is based around broken or unhealthy relationships between fathers and daughters. If you sit back an observe a lesbian couple, why does one generally try to portray themselves as the "boy" or butch? Why are they taking on the normal role of a man, in dominance, attire, aggressiveness, and more? It is from a corrupted thinking born out of a darkened mind, and usually from emotional and pshyscological injuries.

Eunichs were slaves and slaves were property, and if you needed to guard the harem, you needed gelded slaves who couldn't use their plumbing to satisfy royal wives and concubines who were bored with the wait of their husbands attention. Being that way since birth doesn't mean necessarily what you are insinuating, it means that as property (slaves) they were destined to be what they were, and therefore were conditioned for their service.

hope that helps.

_________________Acts 4:13, 1 Cor. 2:1-5, Rom. 12:1-2

February 12th, 2014, 10:32 am

Pablo

RIP Killer

Joined: August 6th, 2004, 9:21 amPosts: 10024Location: Dallas

Re: Michael Sam, NFL draft prospect, announces he's gay

WarEr4Christ wrote:

there is this little thing called generational sin? It's kind of passed on from father to son for lack of a better discription

Well, let's examine what was passed down from Michael's Dad.

Quote:

Last Tuesday, Michael Sam Sr. was at a Denny’s near his home outside Dallas to celebrate his birthday when his son sent him a text message.

Dad, I’m gay, he wrote.

The party stopped cold. “I couldn’t eat no more, so I went to Applebee’s to have drinks,” Sam Sr. said. “I don’t want my grandkids raised in that kind of environment.

So as a Baptist deacon here in Texas I'm sure you can do a much better job of raising a child then your son might be able too... Let's see what you passed down.

Quote:

“I’m old-school,” he added. “I’m a man and a woman type of guy.” As evidence, he pointed out that he had taken an older son to Mexico to lose his virginity.